It was Ned's morning watch. Scarcely had the first streaks of crimson
and gold appeared in the eastern sky, heralding the coming day, than the
look-out, who had just reached the masthead, shouted--
"Three sail on the port bow," and presently afterwards he announced two
more in the same direction. The wind was southerly and light, the
ship's head was to the northward. The commander, according to his
orders, was immediately called. All hands were roused up to make sail,
and soon every stitch of canvas the ship could carry being packed on
her, the foam which bubbled up under her bows showed that she was making
good way in the direction in which the strangers had been seen. As soon
as Ned was able, he hurried aloft with his spy-glass, eager to have a
look at them. He counted not only five, but six, all of them dhows. As
yet they were probably not aware of the presence of a man-of-war, for
their hulls were still below the horizon. He hoped, therefore, that the
"Ione" would gain on them before they should hoist their larger sails.
He knew that it was the custom of the Arabs to carry only small sails at
night. The usual preparations were made on board the corvette, the
boats were cleared ready for lowering, the bow-chasers loaded and run
out, and buckets of water were thrown over the sails to make them hold
the wind.
"We are gaining on them!" exclaimed Ned to Charley, as, after a third
trip aloft, he came again on deck.
"So we may be, but we must remember that after all they may be only
honest traders, and not have a slave on board," observed Charley. "We
shall judge better if they make more sail when they discover us. If
they are honest traders they will keep jogging on as before, if not,
depend upon it they will try to escape."
"They may try, but they'll find that the `Ione' has a fast pair of
heels, and we shall have the fun of overhauling them at all events,"
said Ned.
At length the Arabs must have discovered the man-of-war. First the
nearest hoisted her big sail, and also set one on her after-mast. Then
another and another dhow followed her example, and then the whole
squadron, like white-winged birds, went skimming along over the blue
sea.
"What do you think now, Charley, of the strangers?" asked Ned.
"No doubt that they wish to keep ahead of us, but whether or not we
shall get up with them is another question, though, if the wind holds as
it now does, we may do it."
The commander and gun-room officers were fully as eager as Ned to
overtake the dhows. They had, they thought, at length got some
veritable slavers in sight, and it would be provoking to lose them. It
was, however, curious that they should all keep together; probably,
however, none of them wished to steer a course by which they would run a
greater chance of falling into the power of their pursuer. Seldom had
breakfast been disposed of more quickly by officers and crew than that
morning. The dhows could now be seen clearly from the deck, proof
positive that the corvette was sailing much faster than they were. Once
headed, most of them might be captured, for the dhow can sail but badly
on a wind, though no vessel is faster before it.
The lofty canvas of the corvette gave her an advantage over the dhows,
whose sails occasionally hung down from their yards, almost emptied of
wind.
"We shall soon get them within range of our long gun," said the
commander, as he stood eagerly watching the vessels ahead. "Stand by,
Mr Hanson, to lower the boats; we shall be able to do so with this
breeze without heaving to."
"Is the gun all ready forward?" he asked a few minutes later.
"Aye, aye, sir," was the answer. His practised eye assured him that the
stern most dhow was within range of the long gun.
"We'll make that fellow lower his canvas, and then see what cargo he
carries," said the commander. "Send a shot across his forefoot, and if
that doesn't stop him we'll try to knock away that big yard of his. All
ready there forward?"
"Aye, aye, sir!"
"Fire!"
The missile flew from the mouth of the gun, and was seen to strike the
surface so close to the dhow as to send the spray over her low bows.
Still she held on her course. The gun was run in and reloaded.
"Give her another shot!" cried the commander; "and if they don't bring
to, the Arabs must take the consequences."
The second lieutenant, who had been carefully taking the range, obeyed
the order. The shot was seen to touch the water twice before it
disappeared, but whether it struck the dhow seemed doubtful. Again the
gun was got ready, but this time was aimed at the next vessel ahead,
which almost immediately lowered her sails, the one astern following her
example.
"Let Mr Rhymer, with a midshipman, shove off and take possession of
those two vessels, while we stand after the others. We must try and bag
the whole of them, for I suspect they all have slaves on board,"
observed the commander.
"Garth, do you accompany Rhymer," said Mr Hanson. "Take care that the
Arabs don't play you any trick."
The ship was moving so steadily over the smooth water that there was no
necessity to stop her way, though even then it required care in lowering
the boat. The crew with the two young officers were soon in her, the
oars were got out, and away she pulled after the sternmost dhow, while
the ship stood on in chase of the remainder of the fleet. The crew of
the boat gave way, eager to secure their prize. Scarcely, however, had
they got half-way to the nearest, than the breeze freshened up again,
and the corvette's speed was so increased, that it would have now been
no easy task to lower a boat. They were soon up to the dhow, on board
of which there appeared to be a crew of from fifteen to twenty Arabs,
who gazed with folded arms and scowling countenances on their
approaching captors. Rhymer and Ned sprang on board. No resistance was
offered. The Arab captain shrugged his shoulders, said something, which
probably meant, "It is the fortune of war," and appeared perfectly
resigned to his fate. A peep down the main hatchway showed at once that
she was a slaver, as the bamboo deck was crowded with blacks, who
commenced shrieking fearfully as they saw Ned's white face, having been
told by the Arabs that the object of the English was to cook and eat
them.
"Stop those fellows from making that horrible uproar," cried Rhymer in
an angry tone. "I cannot make out what these Arabs say with this
abominable noise."
It is very doubtful if he would have understood his prisoners even had
there been perfect silence. In order not to be seen by the blacks Ned
walked aft.
Rhymer made signs to the Arabs to give up their arms, which he handed
into the boat as the best means of preventing any attempt they might
make to recapture their vessel. He then ordered them to go forward to
rehoist the sail, while he sent one of his men to the helm.
While they were engaged in these arrangements, Ned cast his eye on the
other dhow, of which Rhymer had been ordered to take charge.
"Look out there, Rhymer!" he exclaimed; "that fellow is getting up his
long yard again, and will try to give us the slip."
"We'll soon stop him from doing that," answered Rhymer. "You remain on
board this craft with a couple of hands and I'll go after him. Cox and
Stone, you stay with Mr Garth; into the boat the rest of you." The
crew in another instant were in their seats, and shoving off, pulled
away towards the other dhow. There was no time to lose, for already the
yard with its white canvas was half-way up the mast. The breeze, too,
was freshening, and as Ned watched her it seemed to him that she had a
good chance of escaping. The boat's crew were pulling as hard as they
could lay their backs to the oars. He saw Rhymer standing up with a
musket in his hand, and shouting to the Arabs, threatening to fire
should they continue the attempt to escape. They were, however,
apparently not to be deterred from so doing. Still the sail continued
to ascend and the dhow was gathering way. Should the sail once be got
up, the boat would have little chance of catching her. Rhymer, however,
was not likely to give up the pursuit. Finding that his threats were
not attended to, he fired one of the muskets, but whether any person was
hit Ned could not discover. Again Rhymer fired, and then reloaded both
muskets. Ned was so engaged in watching the boat, that he scarcely took
notice of the proceedings of the Arabs on board his own dhow. He
observed, however, that one of them, a young man with a better-looking
countenance than most of his companions, had remained aft, while the
rest were attempting to hoist the sail, though from some cause or other
the halyards appeared to have got foul.
"Go forward, Cox, and see what those fellows are about," he said; "I'll
take the helm."
The seaman obeyed, while Stone, beckoning to the young Arab to come to
his assistance, stood by to haul in the main sheet. The only thing in
the shape of a boat was a small canoe which lay in the after part of the
vessel. Aided by Cox, the sail was soon hoisted, but scarcely had the
dhow heeled over to the breeze, than cries arose from the Arab crew, who
made frantic gesticulations, indicating that the vessel was sinking.
Ned at once suspected the cause; their second shot must have struck the
bows of the dhow between wind and water, and had probably started a
plank, so as to allow the sea, like a mill stream, to rush into her.
There was little hope of stopping it. Ned put up the helm. "Lower the
sail!" he shouted as he had never shouted before; the seamen endeavoured
to obey the order, but the halyards had again become jammed, and to his
dismay he saw that the bows of the dhow were rapidly sinking. As the
water rushed into the hold the poor blacks uttered the most piercing
shrieks, while the panic-stricken Arabs in a body frantically sprang
towards the after part of the vessel; but as they came along, the light
deck gave way beneath their weight, and the whole of them were
precipitated on to the heads of the hapless negroes below.
"We must save ourselves, sir," cried Stone, lifting the canoe. "It is
our only chance, or we shall be drowned with the rest."
"Where is Cox?" exclaimed Ned.
He had fallen in among the struggling Arabs and blacks. Ned caught
sight of him for a moment, and was springing forward to help him out
from their midst, when the stern of the dhow lifted. Stone launched the
canoe and leaped into her, shouting to his young officer to join him,
while he paddled with a piece of board clear of the sinking vessel. Ned
seeing that Cox had managed to reach the side, sprang overboard, his
example being followed by the latter, as well as by the young Arab who
had remained aft. Before any of the rest of the crew had extricated
themselves, the dhow, plunging her head into the sea, rapidly glided
downwards, and in an instant the despairing cries of the perishing
wretches which had filled the air were silenced. Stone, influenced by
the natural desire of saving his own life, paddled away with might and
main to escape being drawn down in the vortex. Ned had also struck out
bravely, though he had to exert all his swimming powers to escape. For
an instant he cast a glance back; the dhow had disappeared with all
those on board; Cox was nowhere to be seen; he caught sight, however, of
the young Arab, who, having clutched hold of a piece of bamboo, had come
to the surface, but was evidently no swimmer.
"I must try and save that poor fellow," he thought. "I can manage to
keep him afloat until the canoe gets up to us." Ned carried out his
intention. On reaching the young Arab he made a sign to him to turn on
his back, placing the piece of bamboo under him. Just then he heard a
faint shout--it came from Cox, who had returned to the surface, though,
like the Arab, unable to swim.
"Save me, save me!" shouted Cox, who was clinging to a log of wood.
Stone heard him, and Ned saw the head of the canoe turned towards where
the seaman was struggling.
"Pick him up first!" he shouted to Stone. "I can keep this man afloat
until you come to us."
With only a board to impel the canoe, it took Stone a considerable time
to reach his messmate, whom it was then no easy matter to get into the
canoe without upsetting her. While Stone was thus employed, Ned did his
uttermost to calm the fears of the young Arab, who, besides being unable
to swim, probably recollected that sharks abounded in those seas, and
dreaded lest he and the Englishman might be attacked by one. Ned
thought only of one thing, that he had to keep himself and a
fellow-creature afloat until the canoe should come up to them. As to
how they should get on board, he did not allow himself to think just
then. She was scarcely large enough to hold four people, though she
might possibly support the whole party until Rhymer could send the boat
to pick them up. Ned, withdrawing his eyes from poor Cox, who was
clinging to his log, and shouting to his messmate to make haste, looked
towards the dhow of which Rhymer was in chase. She had hoisted her
sail, and should the breeze continue, would very probably get away,
unless Rhymer, by killing or wounding some of her crew, could make the
others give in. He, it was pretty clear, was so eagerly engaged in
pursuing the chase, that he had not seen the dhow go down. The boat's
crew, however, must have perceived what had happened; and Ned thought it
strange that he did not at once return to try and save him and his two
men.
"Perhaps he fancies that we are all lost, and that there would be no use
in coming to look after us. If he catches the dhow, however, I hope
that he will send back the boat, on the chance of any of us having
escaped," thought Ned. He could see the sails of the corvette, and an
occasional shot told him that she was still firing at the slavers. She
was already almost hull down, and the catastrophe could not have been
discovered from her deck, while the eyes of the look-outs aloft were
probably fixed on the dhows still trying to escape. Still Ned did not
give up hopes of being rescued, but continued energetically treading
water, and speaking in as cheerful a tone as he could command to keep up
the spirits of the young Arab.
"Me understand, t'ankee, t'ankee," said the latter at last.
Still Stone could make but slow progress, and Ned began to fear that his
own strength might become exhausted before the canoe could reach him.
He was truly thankful when at last he saw that Stone had got hold of
Cox, and was dragging him on board. Just at that moment, however, to
his horror, he caught sight of a dark fin above the surface; that it was
that of a shark he knew too well. He must do his utmost to keep the
monster at a distance. He shouted, and splashed the water with his
disengaged hand.
"Be quick, be quick, Stone!" he cried. "Do you see that brute?"
"Aye, aye, sir, I see him; but he'll not come nigh you while you're
splashing about, and the canoe is too big a morsel for him to attack.
Now, Ben," he cried, turning to his messmate, "haul yourself on board
while I keep at the other end of the canoe, it is the safest plan."
But poor Cox was too much exhausted by his violent struggles to do as he
was advised, and at last Stone had to help him, at the risk of upsetting
the canoe or bringing her bow under the water. By lying flat along he
succeeded, however, at last in hauling his shipmate's shoulders over the
bows. He then returned to the stern, when Ben, by great exertion,
managed to drag himself in. This done, Stone endeavoured as fast as he
could to get up to Ned. As Stone paddled, he sung out, "I'm afraid it's
of no use trying to keep that Arab fellow above water; you must let him
go, for the canoe won't hold us all."
"Not while I have life and strength to help him," answered Ned. "Do not
be afraid," he added, turning to the Arab, who understood what Stone had
said. "The canoe may support us even though she is brought down to the
gunwale; and if she can't, I'll keep outside and hold on until Mr
Rhymer's boat comes back, or the corvette sends to look for us."
"But the shark!" cried Stone; "the brute may be grabbing you if you
remain quiet even for a minute."
"I don't intend to remain quiet," said Ned. "Here, lift the Arab in.
I'll help you--it can be done." There certainly was a great risk of the
canoe upsetting in doing as Ned proposed. Cox, however, leaned over on
the opposite side, and they at length succeeded in getting the Arab on
board. The gunwale of the canoe was scarcely a couple of inches above
the water; a slight ripple would have filled her, but the sea was so
smooth that there was no fear of that happening. Ned, directing the men
how to place themselves, was at last drawn safely on board. His
additional weight brought the canoe almost flush with the water. They
were, however, certainly better off in her than in the water; but at any
moment, with the slightest increase of wind, she might fill and sink
beneath them, and they would again be left to struggle for their lives.
Ned was afraid of moving, and urged his companions to remain perfectly
still.
"Look out, Stone; what is the dhow about? Mr Rhymer will surely soon
be sending the boat to our relief--he must have seen our craft go down."
"Not so sure of that; he'll not trouble himself about us," muttered
Stone. "If you were there, you'd do it; all officers are not alike."
Ned was afraid that the seaman might be right, but he did not express an
opinion on the subject. Their position was, indeed, a trying one. The
sun struck down with intense heat on their heads, while they had not a
particle of food to satisfy their hunger, nor a drop of fresh water to
quench their burning thirst. The breeze had sprung up, and every now
and then a ripple broke over the gunwale, even though Stone kept the
canoe before the wind.
"If we had a couple of paddles, we might gain on the corvette; but I'm
afraid of using this bit of board, for fear of taking the water in on
one side or the other," said Stone.
"Do not attempt it," answered Ned; "we should not overtake her unless it
should fall calm again, and the commander will surely come and look for
us."
"Provided Mr Rhymer doesn't tell him we are all lost," remarked Stone,
who had evidently little confidence in the old mate.
Hour after hour went by, the boat was nowhere to be seen, and the dhows'
sails had sunk beneath the horizon. Night was approaching, and as far
as the occupants of the canoe could judge, no help was at hand. Ned
endeavoured, as well as he could, to keep up the spirits of his
companions.
The wind remained light, and the sea was as smooth as a mill-pond. The
approaching darkness so far brought relief that they were no longer
exposed to the burning rays of the sun, while the cooler air of night
greatly relieved them. As the day had passed by, so it appeared
probable would the night, without bringing them succour. Ben and the
Arab slept, but Ned was too anxious to close his eyes, and Stone
insisted on keeping a look-out, on the chance of any vessel passing
which might take them on board. Even an Arab dhow would be welcome, for
the Arabs would doubtless be willing to receive them on board for the
sake of obtaining a reward for preserving their lives. At last the
Arab, whose head was resting on Ned's side, awoke. He appeared to be in
a very weak state, and told Ned, in his broken English, that he thought
he was dying.
"Try and keep alive until to-morrow morning," said Ned; "by that time
our ship will be looking for us, and as they know where we were left, we
are sure to be seen."
Ned had been calculating that it was about two hours to dawn, when, in
spite of his efforts to keep awake, he found his head dropping back on
Ben's legs, and he was soon fast asleep. How long he had been lost in
forgetfulness he could not tell, when he heard Stone give a loud hail.
"What is that?" asked Ned, lifting up his head. "I heard voices and a
splash of oars, sir," he answered; "they were a long way off, and, I
fancied, passed to the southward."
"Silence, then," said Ned; "we will listen for their reply."
No answering hail came, and he feared that Stone must have been
mistaken; again he listened. "Yes, those were human voices and the dip
of oars in the water. We'll shout together. Rouse yourself, Cox," he
said.
Ben sat up, and, Stone leading, they shouted together at the top of
their voices, the young Arab joining them. Again they were silent, but
no answer came. "If that is a boat, they surely must have heard us,"
observed Ned.
"They may be talking themselves, sir, or the noise of their oars
prevented them," remarked Stone.
"We'll shout again, then," said Ned.
Again they shouted, this time louder than before. They waited a few
seconds, almost afraid to breathe, and then there came across the water
a British cheer, sounding faintly in the distance.
"Hurrah! hurrah! All right, sir!" cried Stone. They shouted several
times after this to guide the boat towards them. At length they could
see her emerging from the gloom; but no one on board her had apparently
seen the canoe, for, from the speed the boat was going and the course
she was steering, she was evidently about to pass them.
"Boat ahoy!" shouted Stone. "Here we are, but take care not to run us
down."
The boat's course was altered; they soon heard a voice, it was that of
Charley Meadows, crying out, "There is something floating ahead of us, a
raft or a sunken boat."
"Meadows ahoy!" hailed Ned. "Come carefully alongside." The oars were
thrown in, and the boat glided up to the canoe.
"Why, Ned, Ned! I am so thankful that I have found you," cried Charley,
as he grasped the hand of his messmate after he had been helped on
board.
"There is a poor Arab, take care of him, for he is pretty far gone
already," said Ned.
"Water, water," murmured the Arab faintly.
There was fortunately a breaker in the boat, and before many words were
exchanged some of the refreshing liquid was served out to Ned and his
companions. Except a few biscuits there was nothing to eat, but even
these soaked in water served to refresh the well-nigh famished party.
Charley then explained that the corvette, having captured three of the
dhows, all with slaves on board, had hove to for the purpose of
transferring their cargoes to her deck; and that while so occupied,
Rhymer had arrived with a fourth, several of the Arab crew having been
wounded in attempting to get away. "The commander seeing you were not
on board, inquired what had become of you, when Rhymer, with very little
concern, replied that he feared you all had gone to the bottom with the
dhow, as his boat's crew asserted that they had seen her founder. The
commander was very indignant at his not having gone back at once to try
and pick you up, should you by any means have escaped. He immediately
ordered off three boats--the second lieutenant going in one, Rhymer in
another, while he gave me charge of the third. What has become of the
other two boats I do not know; perhaps they thought that they had come
far enough and have gone back, as I confess I was on the point of doing
when I heard your hail. We shall soon, I hope, fall in with the ship,
for she is sure to beat back over the ground until she has picked us
up."
"I shall be thankful to get on board for the sake of this poor Arab, who
requires the doctor's care," said Ned.
"Why, isn't he one of the slaver's crew?" exclaimed Charley. "An arrant
rogue, I dare say."
"I don't know about that, but I saved his life," answered Ned, "and I
feel an interest in him; he seems grateful too, as far as I can judge."
He then asked the Arab, who was sitting near him, whether he would have
some more water, and handed him the cup, which was full.
"T'ankee, t'ankee!" answered the Arab; "much t'ankee!" Ned then gave
him some more sopped biscuit.
"What's his name?" inquired Charley. "Ask him, as he seems to speak
English."
"Sayd," answered the Arab immediately, showing that he understood what
was said.
Charley was now steering the boat to the northward. In a short time day
broke, and as the sun rose, his rays fell on the white canvas of the
corvette, which was standing close-hauled to the south-west, her black
hull just seen above the horizon.
"Hurrah!" cried Charley, "there's the old `barky'; I hope we shall soon
be on board."
"If she stands on that course she'll pass us," said Ned.
"No fear of that," answered Charley; "she'll soon be about, and we shall
be on board and all to rights."
He was not mistaken; the corvette immediately tacked, her canvas, which
had hitherto seemed of snowy whiteness, being thrown into dark shadow.
She now stood towards the south-east, on a course which would bring her
so near that the boat would soon be seen from her deck. Before long she
again came to the wind.
"She is going about again!" exclaimed Ned.
"No, no, she's heaving to to pick up one of the boats," answered
Charley.
He was again right; in a few minutes the sails were once more filled,
and she stood on. The wind being light, the midshipmen had to wait for
some time before they were certain that the boat was seen. The corvette
again appeared as if about to pass them, but soon put about, and in less
than a quarter of an hour she hove to, to enable Charley to steer
alongside.
"Hurrah!" he shouted as he approached, "we have them all safe."
A cheer rose from the throats of the crew as they received this
announcement. Ned with his companions were assisted up the side. As he
passed along the gangway he observed the unusual appearance which the
deck presented, covered as it was by an almost countless number of black
figures, men, women, and children, most of them squatting down in the
attitudes they had been compelled to preserve on board the slave
vessels. He had, however, to make his way aft to the commander, who put
out his hand and cordially congratulated him on his escape.
Ned having reported what had happened to himself, added, "There's a poor
Arab with me, sir, who requires to be looked after by the doctor. He
seems grateful to me for having kept him afloat until the canoe picked
us up."
"In other words you saved his life, Garth, at the peril of your own, as
far as I can understand. The surgeon will attend to him; and I hope the
risk he has run of losing his life will induce him to give up
slave-trading for the future. Now, my lad, you must turn into your
hammock, you look as if you required rest."
Ned confessed that such was the case, but hinted that he and Sayd would
first of all be glad of some food. This was soon brought him, and
scarcely a minute had passed after he had tumbled into his hammock
before he was fast asleep.